However, our children are still considered obese. And so we ask ourselves, how can kids cholesterol levels be down? What many of us don't know is that we can be overweight and still have all right cholesterol levels. In an era of fast food meals that we allow our children to eat in the name of convenience, the news is still encouraging. Here is why our overweight kids can still have lowered cholesterol levels. And this news is a good start in helping our children lower their cholesterol and becoming healthier.

Lower Cholesterol in Kids

Experts surmise that while most children are still eating more than exercising, they may be ingesting less of the trans fats that raise cholesterol. Trans fats clog arteries and because of new education on the damage of trans fats, many of food industry giants, including fast food and other grocery companies have reduced trans fat in their foods.

The research was released by the Journal of the American Medical Association and more clearly showed that the declines in high cholesterol in children happened over time. An overabundance of the bad cholesterol (LDL), raises heart disease risk and while it is not an immediate threat to a child's health, children with high cholesterol carry the risk onto adulthood if dietary and exercise guidelines are not improved.

Lower Cholesterol Statistics

The study drew data from interviews and blood cholesterol tests and centered on over 16,000 kids and adolescents spanning over three segments of time: 1988 to 1994, 1999 to 2002 and 2007 t0 2010. The latest chronological study found that one in 12 kids aged six through nine had high cholesterol. But the numbers were decreased from one in nine during the two earlier studies, showing a 28 percent reduction.

Cholesterol levels have been reduced in adults as well. Adults dropped their bad cholesterol levels about 27 percent in the past 10 years. Cholesterol drugs such as statins are part of the reason for the lowered cholesterol in adults.

Lower Trans Fats in Your Child's Diet

Artificial trans fats are proven to kill off the good cholesterol and increase the bad cholesterol that clogs our arteries. The government made a mandate in 2006 that packaged foods needed to release their information on trans fats in their food content. That, along with aggressive education to consumers has led to more thoughtful eating behaviors and attention to health risks, thereby lowering cholesterol levels.

Maybe we are making some headway in getting people to be more healthy. It's nice to see some good news when it comes to our children and society's health. After all, we are given one life and it stands to reason logically and emotionally that everyone deserves to live life to the fullest!